Loading fin stabilized rounds



Nov. 16, 1965 J. HEGEDUS, JR 3,217,587

LOADING FIN STABILIZED ROUNDS Filed Sept. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l F I9. I

5' Fig l a 26 27 ml A T INVENTOR.

JOSEPH HE6EDUS,JR.

BYN n. 2 4. 4% W i 7 ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 J. HEGEDUS, JR

LOADING FIN STABILIZED ROUNDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1964 .lll

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH HEGEDUS,JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,217,587 LOADING FIN STABILIZED ROUNDS Joseph Hegedus, Jr., Succasunna, N.J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 394,090 Claims. (CI. 86-43) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to loading ammunition and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for mouth loading fin stabilized rounds in a cartridge case.

Heretofore, fin stabilized heat rounds have been loaded through an appropriate aperture provided in the base of the cartridge case. The loading aperture has presented serious problems of gas leakage and case extracting difiiculties after firing. Various loading plugs for sealing the loading hole have been designed and tested without success.

The present invention provides for loading such rounds through the mouth of the cartridge case previously loaded with propellant in such a manner as to minimize the possibility of crushing the propellant granules or the danger of otherwise subjecting them to undue friction, while embedding the projectile a maximum predetermined distance rearwardly within the propellant.

Other objects of the invention includes provision of satisfactory control media for guiding and feeding the pro jectile to its loaded position in an efficient and safe manner.

In one aspect of the invention a propellant charge is loaded through the mouth of a cartridge case, and a finned projectile is inserted longitudinally into the case and charge through the mouth while the projectile is reversely rotated.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 1A are an elevational view partially broken away in section of a preferred arrangement for practicing the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partially broken away, of the mechanical drive means employed in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Suitably arranged upon a horizontal work surface or support is a jig or fixture shown generally at 11. The jig 11 includes a base plate 12 having plural apertures 13 for reception of bolts or other means 14 for securing the "g to support 10 which preferably contains threaded openings for that purpose. Base plate 12 has a central recess 15 of predetermined dimensions formed in its upper surface to receive the bottom or rear flange 16 of a primed and propellant loaded cartridge case 17. Appropriate clamping members 18 preferably are journa-lled to the base plate at various points adjacent recess 15 and are of a predetermined configuration for pivotal movement to their respective positions firmly clamping case flange 16 in recess 15.

Cylindrical support 20 is preferably mounted upon the base plate in a concentric relationship with the longitudinal or central axis of the case 17 and recess 15. Hinged guide means 21 are afiixed at 22 to opposed inner walls of support 20 and each guide portion end 23 is arcuately recessed so as to cooperate with the other in their lowered horizontal position to firmly anchor the cartridge case in its upright loading position. The hinged guides 21 are located a predetermined distance above the base plate to "ice engage the forward peripheral surfaces of the cartridge case. The top of support 20 is apertured for receiving loading means and the uppermost sidewalls of support 20 are provided with opposed longitudinally arranged slots 25 through which extend the end portions of a transversely oriented floating guide 26 having appropriate external attaching means 27 .and a central or inner hub arrangement 28. The hub 28 is dimensioned to predetermined tolerances for closely receiving the portion 31 of projectile having maximum diametric extent.

The rearwardly extending fins 32 of projectile 30 are lowered or fed toward and into the mouth or open upper end 33 of the cartridge case, either by manual operation or, preferably, by mechanical means shown generally at 50 (FIG. 2). It has been found that a projectile feed rate of one-half inch per second is most favorable in conjunction with a reciprocably or reversely rotating movement throughout a predetermined arc. Preferably, this alternately rotating or oscillating movement pattern comprises a one second clockwise rotation through an angle of 240 and a similar counterclockwise movement through the same 240 in the following second. When the projectile is reversely rotated and fed into the propellant loaded cartridge case, the fins will penetrate into the propellant a maximum distance to its seated position in a manner having the highest degree of safety wherein the fins will not bind in nor crush the propellant.

Mechanical means 50 for accomplishing the projectile advance preferably are connected to the forward nose portion 39 of the projectile by a spike clamp 40. Secured, by means of a suitable yoke arrangement 42, to the forward end of clamp 40 is a drive rod 41 through which the desired movement is attained.

The mechanical drive and feed means (FIG. 2) includes a housing 51 appropriately apertured at 52, 53 to receive respective upper end portions of drive rod or shaft 41 and the output shaft 54 of an electric motor M.

Preferably mounted within the housing 51 upon the respective upper ends of shafts 41 and 54 are rotatable discs 55 and 56, the upstanding pins 57, 58 of which are interconnected by link member 59. The ends of link 59 are suitably connected by the corresponding pins 57, 58 to predetermined locations on the upper faces of Wheels or discs 55, 56 such that the motor driven rotational movement of disc 56 and its pin 58 will be transformed by crank 59 into oscillational or alternately rotating movement of pin 57, wheel 55 and shaft 41. The particular location of pins 57, 58 (FIG. 3) preferably is such as to render this latter movement through approximately a 240 arc, the extreme points of which being denoted approximately by driven pin positions 57' and 57". When pin 58 makes a complete revolution of 360 to assume its same position, crank or coupling oscillator 59 will be in its position 59A and correspondingly, pin 57 in position 57A.

The housing 51 has an eyelet or other appropriate pivotal means 60 affixed to its upper surface for suitable suspending by means (not shown) the mechanical drive means 50 at least in its initial position. A laterally adjustable balance arrangement or movable weight 61 is positioned on the housing upper surface to control the gravitational effect upon the vertically downward movement of the projectile once the fins 32 have entered the cartridge case mouth 33. For example, when the weight is moved inward to a position 61A, the gravitational force may be increased.

Certain modifications, alterations or changes may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for loading fin stabilized rounds in a cartridge case comprising,

a fixture for positioning a cartridge case,

means for guiding a projectile intosaid case, and means for feeding said projectile towards said case and for repetitiously first rotating said projectile through and arc in one direction and then rotating said projectile through said are in an opposite direction.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said feeding and rotating means includes a coupling oscillator and a balance arrangement each mechanically connected to a means for clamping the same to said projectile.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said guiding means includes a floating guide having transversely extending portions positioned within longitudinally arranged slots provided in said fixture.

4. A method for loading fin stabilized rounds in a cartridge case comprising the steps of,

loading a propellant charge through the mouth of a cartridge case, and

inserting a finned projectile longitudinally into said case and charge through said mouth While repetitiously first rotating said projectile through an arc in one direction and then rotating said projectile through said are in an opposite direction.

5. A method for loading fin stabilized rounds into' a cartridge case comprising the steps of,

priming a cartridge case,

loading a propellant charge through the mouth of said cartridge case,

securing the loaded cartridge case to a jigfixturehaving a floating guide,

attaching to a front end of a projectile a spike clamp driven by an alternately rotatable feed means,

inserting a finned rear end of said projectile through said floating guide and cartridge case mouth,

constantly feeding said projectile a predetermined longitudinal distance towards its seat Within said loaded cartridge case while repetitiously first rotating said projectile through a predetermined arc of rotation in one direction and then rotating said projectile through said are in an opposite direction, all within a predetermined period of time,

removing said cartridge case from said jig fixture and said spike clamp from said projectile, and crimping said cartridge case.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1916 Page 86-39 11/1953 Simpson 8643 

1. APPARATUS FOR LOADING FIN STABILIZED ROUNDS IN A CARTRIDGE CASE COMPRISING, A FIXTURE FOR POSITIONING A CARTRIDGE CASE, MEANS FOR GUIDING A PROJECTILE INTO SAID CASE, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID PROJECTILE TOWARDS SAID CASE AND FOR REPETITIOUSLY FIRST ROTATING SAID PROJECTILE THROUGH AND ARC IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN ROTATING SAID PROJECTILE THROUGH SAID ARC IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 